The Day.

I am committed to my children. They are my first and ,in certain situations, only priority. My greatest regret is having to share their time with their Dad. He is entitled to them and he is good to them, but I miss them. We have routines that make our days special. Avery sits in my lap every morning at 6am and we share a cup of tea together. She never wants her own cup, just to drink from mine. I am not an early riser, but this special time we have carved out for each other in the morning makes it worth it. She sneaks into my room and whispers to me "time to get up" even in my worst moods, or worst sleeps she lights up my morning and makes it special. Around 630 Liam arrives and Avery is usually the first to greet him as he comes up the stairs. She moves over and my big boy snuggles into my lap for his turn of Mommy-time. Avery is a big girl and holds my cup as we plan the day and chat about what we are all up to. I usually move them into the kitchen and make their breakfast, scrambled eggs is a staple at our house. As I put their food on plates my biggest boy comes through, usually dressed, and wondering if we have OJ. Jake could drink a litre a day if I would let him! I usually have one ready for him and he sits to chat with his siblings. They are loud and they banter but I love the chatter as they talk about library day and special helpers. Somewhere in there I get ready for work, organize them and get us all out the door. Mommy time with Jake has recently been the ongoing activity of walking our dog, when the weather is nice we jog but right now we bundle up after work and school and take our terrier out for a brisk walk. She loves it and it gives Jake the opportunity to have Mommy-time with just Mommy. Being the oldest of 4 myself I can understand being lost in the crowd of other children's needs and I try hardest to cut out time for him. Supper is eaten at the table with all parties present. Each child has a job to do to create the meal, yes it takes longer, yes it is wilder but how will they learn to do it without you helping them learn? I have a table setter, a Mommy's helper, a salad maker and a table clearer at each meal. I have loved having them around me (trying to) contribute. After supper we do homework, little ones can watch a movie and I sit with the boys at the dining room table and we spell, write equations or whatever else is sent home that day. Then begins the bed count down, usually with Miss Early-riser telling me she is ready for her P-jam-jams... Off she goes to get ready and the boys wind down with a movie. I love the Disney classics, so do they! They have a few and the Lion King and 101 Dalmatians are the perfect movies to watch when I am putting the little ones to bed. I climb into her bad and wait for her to join me, she comes into her room dragging her special blankey and my heart melts. I just love my little girl. I smell her breath, this proves she brushed her teeth, and we read 2 books and then snuggle and talk for a few minutes and she starts to drift. I tell her I will check on her after I put the boys to bed and she nods...Already half gone. Liam has usually started getting ready by now, my kids have never disliked bed time, and I follow him downstairs as he tidies up I climb into his bed and wait.. He brings me a HUGE book every night and we negotiate how many pages I am going to read, he is an amazing reader but all my kids love me to read to them. I read the 10 pages we negotiated and he cuddles but quickly starts to fade... I kiss his cheek and tell him to sleep tight, every night he replies that bed bugs do not live in his bed. I adore this little genius-child. I go next door to Jake's room. He is usually reading and I flop down on his bed telling him I am just going to sleep here as I am not going to make it back up the stairs. He laughs and I cuddle with him, don't tell anyone he is 9 and he still cuddles, we chat I read him a book or a chapter of a book he is reading and I let him feel close. As kids grow up we touch them less. I think they need to be cuddled and reassured more.I tell him he is handsome and looks like his Dad, he smiles. I hug him and remind him how spring is coming and he is going to have to get back into shape soon, he rolls his eyes and laughs a little. I tell him good night and I will see him in the morning to which he nightly replies..."Not if I see you first." This child is an angel. They are all my gifts, my undeserved treasures of this world. I cannot imagine my life without them and their amazing qualities, traits and characters. Are your children your treasures? Do your eyes light up when they enter the room? Do they feel loved, always? Do they worry about disappointing you and strive to be better people because of that? Those are the goals I have for myself as a parent. I want my treasures to feel endless love, great respect and knowledge that their Mother will love them first no matter what. Is their anything better than being your kid's mom?

The Divine Love.

Children are the ambassadors of unconditional love. They wear it, live it and breath it. Most of us are dealing with the mess our parents made of our lives, all the while making a mess of our children's. The irony of this startles me. Am I doing the same thing to my children as my parents did? My children love me irregardless of my blunders and faults. They run to me when I pick them up from daycare and I feel the joy and love their little hearts are full of. Their little hearts beat a constant rhythm of contentment and strength. How do we lose that adoration and lust for life? When did becoming an adult mean that we are cynical of those around us and unable to focus on anything but their flaws. My daughter was bitten in the face last summer by a dog, she had a 2 inch gash under her left eye, my son's have nicknamed this spot her "beauty spot" she calls it her princess mark. This is a scar, is is now a small bubble of skin that has a small scratch around it. They don't see it that way, they see it as different and beautiful. I would be seeing plastic surgeons trying to get my face back but they have such a divine love in their hearts, they could never see their sister as flawed or wrong. I have learned a lot from "the gaggle" acceptance and love are only some of their amazing lessons. Is there anything better than being your kid's mom?

The Gaggle.

My stepson Jaden.

My Beautiful girl.

The Gaggle. Jake, Jaden, Avery, and Liam.

My Favorite picture of Liam. He loves dinosaurs and Science world on a snowy afternoon was his idea of heaven!

They are shouting "Go Team!"

I love to watch them learn and get really interested in subjects. I received 3 free kids passes to Science World from Ikea. I was in there last week spending a gift card I got there and the Kids Club had these coupons! When I got home Jonathan and I immediately decided that we would be having a "Liam devoted Family Day!" We do family activities based on what each child wants to do, they all get a turn. There is no complaining about the event. They all know it will be their turn soon enough. Jake decided he wanted to go to Jonathan"s hockey game and to his favorite restaurant The Old Spaghetti Factory on Friday night which meant it was Liam's turn. I was so excited to tell Liam. He is a dinosaur FANATIC! I know boys go through the dinosaur stage but Liam is a full on Dino-junkie! So Sunday morning we piled in the truck and drove out to Vancouver! He was vibrating the whole way! It was an amazing day and they all loved it. Liam was so good at being our tour guide and explaining each of the fossils. What each dinosaur ate and whether or not they were a herbivore or a carnivore. I was amazed at how much he knew!